Electric iron assembly means



Aug. 19, 1952 L. H. SNYDER ET AL 2,607,139

- ELECTRIC IRON ASSEMBLY MEANS Filed May 31, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l 4 vEQLI 9 57%51722715 wzllzsEJ/izfle Leland H'ny er M /WW H7 Aug. 19, 1952L. H. SNYDER ET AL ELECTRIC IRON ASSEMBLY MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMay 51, 1946 Aug. 19, 1952 L. H. SNYDER ET AL 2,607,139

ELECTRIC IRON ASSEMBLY MEANS Filed May 51, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet s.ZEYVEHTUFE Willis E sh -Ure Leland H'nyaer Aug. 19, 1952 L. H. SNYDERET AL 2,607,139

ELECTRIC IRON ASSEMBLY MEANS Filed May 31, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTORE M'ZZZSE 855010;

y Leland fl'nydefi TYE.

Patented Aug. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC IRONASSEMBLY MEANS tion of Delaware Application May 31, 1946, Serial No.673,453

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an electric iron.

In the copending application of Leland H. Snyder, Serial No. 565,610,filed November 29, 1944, which has issued as Patent No. 2,436,943 onMarch 2, 1948, there is disclosed and claimed an electric ironconstruction wherein the handle portion of the iron is resilientlysupported with respect to the shell portion. This invention provides afurther improvement over the construction of our copending applicationin that integrally formed means are provided on the spring element whichresiliently supports the handle relative to the shell portion of theiron by which the spring element also accomplishes the locking of thehandle to the shell portion.

A further feature of this invention lies in the mounting of the controlknob for the adjustable thermostat at the iron upon the base portion ofa generally loop-shaped handle and the provision of a detachableconnection between such control knob and the adjustable thermostatdisposed which is automatically engageable and disengageablerespectively upon the assembly and disassembly of the handle to theshell portion.

A further feature of this invention is the pro vision of an improvedarrangement for retaining the contro1 knob in position upon an aperturedwall of the iron structure. In accordance with this invention, adisk-like retaining member is secured to a shank portion of the controlknob on'the opposite side of the apertured wall from the knob and aplurality of resilient fingers on such retaining disk are provided whichcooperate with the apertured Wall to resiliently urge the control knobtoward abutting relationship with the apertured wall.

A further feature of this invention lies in the provision of a generallyloop-shaped handle for an electric iron wherein the underside of thebase portion of the handle is provided with a pair of Accordingly, it isan object of this invention to provide an improved electric iron.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved electriciron construction wherein the handle is resiliently supported inoverlying relationship to the shell portion of the iron.

A particular object of this invention is to provide an improvedresilient member for supporting a handle relative to the exterior of acooperating casing, such as the shell portion of an iron, beingcharacterized by the provision of integrally formed means thereon foreffecting the locking of the handle to the cooperating casing to preventthe accidental disassembly thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved mountingarrangement for the control knob of an electric iron by which thecontrol knob is resilientl held in abutting relationship with theapertured wall of the iron on which it is mounted.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved detachableconnection between the an electric iron wherein the control knob ismounted on a handle which is detachable from channels in whichelectrical conductors are mounted and such channels are respectivelydisposed on opposite sides of a vertical aperture in such base portionin which the control knob of the iron is journaled. A single retainingmember is secured to the control knob on the under side of the baseportion of the handle and a plurality of fingers projecting radialloutward from such retaining member not only impart an axial bias to thecontrol knob to hold it in abutting relationship with the base portionof the handle but in addition extend across the channels defined in thebase portion of the handle and act to retain the electrical conductorswithin such channels.

the shell portion of the iron in which the adjustable thermostat ismounted.

A particular object of this invention is to provide an improvedresilient coupling member for resiliently supporting the handle of anelectric iron relative to the shell portion wherein the coupling memberalso defines an electrical .ter.-. minal mounting block for the lead-inwires .of the electric iron. I

Another particular object of this invention is to provide an improvedelectric iron construction wherein the handle of the iron is secured tothe shell portion by a resilient lock which is disposed substantiallywithin a recessed portion of the handle and an opening is provided in awall of such recess permitting the resilient looking member to beengaged by a suitable tool to effect the disassembly of the handle fromthe shell portion.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects andadvantages thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description of the annexed sheets of drawingswhich, by way of preferred example. only, illustrate two specificembodiments of the invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of anelectric iron embodying one modification of this invention, shown withthe handle unit assembled to the shell portion of the iron;

Figure 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the iron ofFigure 1, shown with the handle unit disposed in disassembledrelationship with respect to the shell portion of the iron;

Figure 3 is a bottom elevational view of the handle unit;

Figure 4 is a partial, vertical sectional view of the rear pedestalportion of the handle unit of the iron of Figure 1, showing the closuremember for the rear pedestal recess in disassembled relation;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the front 'resilient member whichresiliently supports and secures the handle unit to the shell portion;

Figure 6 is an exploded View of the thermostat control knob assemblyelements;

Figure 7 is a partial sectional view taken on the plane VIL-VII ofFigure 6.

Figure 8 is a top elevational view of the shell casing;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the plane IXIX of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a partial vertical sectional view of the rear portion of anelectric iron illustrating a modification of this invention; and

Figure 11 is a top elevational View of the rear portion of the ironshell constructed in accordance with the modification of Figure 10.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring to Figure 1, an electric iron embody ing this invention isindicated generally by the numeral 1. The iron comprises a shell unit 2anda handle unit 4 which are individually preassembled and thenassembled into a unitary iron construction by operation of the resilientcoupling members 5,. as will be describedin more detail later.

The shell unit 2 comprises a sole plate 8 of conventional configurationupon which is supported an electric heating element H), which is pressedinto intimate heat conducting relationship with sole plate 8 by apressure pad l2. Suitable bolts l4 secure pressure pad I2 to sole plate8.

At spaced points around the periphery of sole plate 8 there are providedupstanding ribs IS. A shell casing I8 is disposed on top of the soleplate 8, the bottom edge of casing I 8 resting upon the ribs I6 and thusdefining a plurality of air inlet passages 29 around the periphery ofcasing 18. In addition, a longitudinal air opening I9 is provided ineach side of casing l8. Casing I8 is secured to sole plate 8 by one ormore screws 22.

A thermostat unit 24 is secured to the central portion of sole plate 8by a screw 26. Thermostat unit 24 may comprise any one of several wellknown forms of thermostatic units which are adjustable by a rotativemovement, and for purposes of example, is shown as comprising a hollowbushing member 28 surrounding the screw 26 and upon which are stackedsuccessively a bimetallic strip 39, an adjustable spring leaf 32, acooperating spring leaf 34, and an adjusting mechanism support bracket36. The one end of the bimetallic strip 30 is thus rigidly secured anddisposed in good heat conducting relationship with the central portionof the sole plate 8. The other end of bimetal strip 30 is therefore freeto flex in response to temperature changes of the sole plate 8 andcarries thereon an upstanding insulating button 38 which moves upwardlyinto engagement with the overhanging end of the cooperating leaf springelement 34 as the temperature of the sole plate 8 increases. Contacts 58are respectively provided in opposed relationship on adjustable springleaf 32 and cooperating spring leaf 34. The spring tension of these leafmembers is such that the contacts 40 are normally maintained in a closedposition as shown, except when the bimetal strip 39 urges thecooperating leaf spring 34 upwardly.

The adjusting mechanism by which the vertical position of the free endof the adjustable leaf spring 32 is controlled comprises a support nut42 which is rigidly secured on the top surface of support bracket 36. Anadjusting screw 7 44 is threaded through support nut 32 and at the lowerend thereof has secured thereto an insulating button 66 which contactsthe free end of adjustable spring leaf 32 to urge such leaf downwardlyas the adjusting screw 44 is threaded downward through the support nut42. The adjusting screw 5 is provided with an enlarged head portion 48and on the top surface of the head portion 48 a coupling disk 59 isrigidly secured which, as will be described, provides driving connectionbetween the adjusting screw 44 and the manually operated control knobI32 which is supported in the central portion of handle unit 5. Adepending stop lug 52 secured to head portion 48 cooperates with anupstanding stop lug 54 provided on support nut 42 to limit the rotativemovement of adjusting screw 44 to less than one complete revolution. Aspring 58 is. provided in surrounding relationship to screw 44 andoperates between head portion 48 and support nut 42 to maintain aconstant axial bias on adjusting screw 44 to eliminate any back lash inthe helical movement thereof.

The contacts 49 of adjustable thermostat 24 are connected in seriescircuit with the heating element ii] in conventional manner by suitablewiring (not shown). The supply wires for the heating element are led tothe exterior of easing I 8 through suitable insulating bushings 68 whichare supported on sole plate 8 and project upwardly through suitableapertures 6% in the top surface of shell casing 58.

The handle unit 4 comprises a handle memher which may be convenientlymolded from a suitable heat and electrically insulating material and isof generally loop-shaped configuration having a handle portion 84 bywhich the iron may be grasped, front and rear pedestal portions 66 and68 respectively and a base or web portion 19 connecting between thefront and rear pedestal portions. Front pedestal portion 68 is providedwith a recess 72 in which is housed a light 1 and the front couplingmember 5, while rear pedestal portion 68 is provided with a recess l5 inwhich are accommodated the terminal connections for the lead-in wiresand the rear coupling member 6.

As was heretofore stated, the front and rear coupling members 8 functionto secure handle unit 4 to shell unit 2 in spaced, spring pressedrelationship thereto. That is, the handle unit 4 is supported in spacedrelationship above the top surface of shell unit 2 and is resilientlyurged upwardly by coupling members 6 to provide a yielding resistance todownward pressure imparted to the iron by the operator. So far as theirresilient support and securing functions are concerned, the front andrear coupling members '5 are identical and both may be described by thefollowing description of the front coupling member illustratedspecifically in Figure 5.

The coupling member 6 is of generally U- shaped configuration having anupper arm portion I8 and a lower arm portion 80. To increase theflexibility of the U-shaped loop thus formed, the central portion ofeach of the arms of the loop may be cut away as indicated at 82. A pairof holes 84 are provided in spaced relationship in the front portion ofupper arm "I8 and screws 86 pass through the holes 84 to secure thecoupling members to the handle. In theirsecured position, the front andrear coupling members he respectively in the recesses I2 and I6 ofthefrontand rear pedestal portions 66 and 68 of the handle and the upperarm portions I8 of the coupling members are disposed in generallyhorizontal position, while the lower arms 80 are disposed in dependingrelation to upper arms 18 and project somewhat below the bottom surface81 of the handle 94. It should be noted that the bottom surface 8'! ofhandle 94 is of arcuate shape generally conforming with the top surfaceof shell casing I9. Thus when the handle unit 4 is placed in overlyingrelationship on shell unit 2, the lower arms 80 engage the top surfaceof shell casing I8.

At each side of the upper arm portion I8 of the coupling member 6, thereis provided an integrally formed, downwardly depending latchingprojection 88. Each of the latching projections 88 in turn is providedwith a forwardly opening l latching notch 99. The shell casing I8 isprovided witha plurality of slot-like apertures 92 (Figs. 2 and 8) inits top surface which will respectively receive the latching projections88 as the handle unit 4 is brought downwardly on the shell unit 2 at aposition somewhat to the rear of the final assembled position of thehandle unit 4 on the shell unit 2. Hence, when the handle unit 4 ismoved forwardly relative to the shell unit 2 to its final assembledposition, the latching notches 90 on the latching projection 88 willsurround the forward end walls of the slot-like apertures 92 in theshell casing I8 as shown in Figure l and hence permit only a limitedvertical movement of the handle unit 4 with respect to the shell unit 2.In such position, the lower arm 89 of coupling member 6 is of course inengagement with the top surface of shell casing I9 and the loop of thecoupling member is compressed; hence, the handle unit is normallyurgedupwardly by the coupling member 6 to the extreme vertical positionpermitted by the engagement of the bottom surfaces of the latch ingnotches 90 with the inside face of the shell casing I8.

From the construction thus far described it is apparent that the handleunit 4 is resiliently supported and secured to the shell unit 2;however, the handle unit 4 is immediately detachable from the shell unit2 by a rearward movement of the handle unit 4 relative to the shell unitwhich brings the latching notches 90 out of engagement with the adjacentend wall portion of the apertures 92. To prevent such transversemovement The locking proper position relative thereto.

as is permitted the latching projections within the apertures 92. A pairof apertures 98 (Figs. 8 and 11) are provided in the rear portion of thetop surface of the shell casing I8 to receive the locking projections 94of the rear coupling member 6 and the rear apertures 98 are ofsubstantially the same length as the locking projections 94. Hence whenlooking projections 94 of rear coupling are engaged therein,substantially no transverse movement of the handle unit 4 relative tothe shell unit 2 is possible. The rear apertures 98 are suitably locatedon shell casing I8 so that the locking projections 94 of the rearcoupling member 6 sna into engagement with the rear apertures 98 whenthe handle unit 4 is assembled to the shell unit 2 and moved forwardlyto its Once the lock ing projections 94 have snapped into engagementwith the rear apertures 98, it is impossible for the handle unit 4 to beaccidently or inadvertently disassembled from the shell unit 2. Yetlimited spring pressed vertical movement of the handle unit 4 relativeto the shell unit 2 is unimpaired. To disassemble the handle unit 4 fromthe shell unit 2 it is necessary to pry the locking projections 94 ofthe rear coupling member 6 upwardly out of engagement with the rearapertures 98, whereupon a rearward movement of the handle unit 4relative to the shell unit 2 will disengage the latching projection 88from the shell casing I8.

It should of course be understood that the described arrangement whereinthe locking projections 94 on the rear coupling member 6 are effectiveto prevent transverse movement of the handle unit 4 relative to theshell unit 2 is merely the preferred arrangement. Obviously the lookingprojections 94 on the front coupling member 6 may perform the samefunction by reducing the size of the front apertures 95 in which theyare engaged.

As a further feature of this invention, the rear coupling member I5 mayhave its upper arm portion 18 (Figs. 1 and 4) extended beyond the screwhole 84 and bent upwardly to extend further into the recess I6 of therear pedestal portion 68 of the handle. This extension portion I00 maybe conveniently utilized as a mounting plate for supporting theelectrical terminals I92 of the iron.

In the modification of Figure 1, the recess I6 is open at the back sideof rear pedestal portion 68 and the recess 79 may then be enclosed by aseparately molded closure I94 which is secured to the rear pedestalportion 68 by a suitable screw I86.

To provide a flexible attachment of the power supply cord to theelectric iron, the closure member I04 is provided with a hole IE8extending therethrough which is counterbored as indicated H0 in the endopening into the recess I6. A hollow bushing H2 of rubber or rubber-likematerial is then inserted in the hole I08 and is provided with ashoulder portion II4 which bottoms against the base of counterbore III).A second shoulder porton H6 is provided on bushing II2 spaced from theshoulder II4 a distance substantially equal to the depth of the holeI08. Shoulder I I6 is of slightly larger diameter than the hole I08 sothat the rubber-like material of bushing II2 must be forcibly compressedto insert the bushing II2 into the hole I88; however, when onceassembled, the shoulder I I6 acts as a retaining shoulderto secure thebushing H2 in assembled relation in the closure I04. The power supplywires II8 pass through the bushing II 2 in; conventional manner. and aresecured to the terminals I62 to supply power to the electrical elementof the iron.

From the construction thus far described, it will be apparent that aniron embodying this invention permits convenient access to theelectrical terminals and hence permits the replacement of a worn cord inthe iron inasmuch as all that is required is the removal of the closuremember I64 by unscrewing screw I06. It is further apparent that theremoval of closure member I04 from its assembled position on the handleunit 4 exposes the locking projections 94 on the rear coupling member 6'and permits a suitable tool, such as a screwdriver blade, to be slippedunder the lower arm 86 of the rear coupling member 6 so that the lockingprojections 94 of the rear coupling member 6 may be pried upwardly outof the rear apertures 66. Thus the iron may be conveniently separatedinto the handle unit and the shell unit for repair purposes.

It has been heretofore mentioned that a suitable light I4 is mounted inthe recess I2 provided in the front pedestal portion 66 of the handle.As more clearly shown in Figure 3, the under side of the base or webportion I of the handle 62 is provided with suitable integrally formedribs I which define depressed channels I22 to respectively accommodate apair of wires I24 which supply power to the light 14 from the terminalsI02. A screw type socket I26 and a contact plate I28 are suitablymounted within the recess 72 to support and provide electricalconnection with the light I4. The front pedestal portion 66 is providedwith a forwardly projecting annular reflector portion I30 whichsurrounds the light I4 protecting it from accidental blows and focusingthe light rays therefrom into a beam directed onto the surface beingironed.

As was heretofore mentioned, the manual control knob I32 for theadjustable thermostat 24 is mounted in the base portion I0 of the handle62. A vertical aperture I34 (Fig. 6) is provided in such base portionand rotatably journals an integrally formed shank portion I36 of theknob I32. An internally threaded bushing I38 is mounted in the shankportion I36 and opens on the bottom side of the base or web portion I0.The bushing I38 receives a headed screw I40, and, as more clearly shownin Figure 6, the screw I40 passes through central apertures in acoupling plate I42 and a retainer disk I44, securing such elements tothe control knob I32. The central portion of the retainer disk I44 iscut away and a plurality of integrally formed depending nibs I46provided on the bottom face of shank portion I36 projects through suchcut away central portion of the retainer disk and engage incomplementary formed holes I46 (Figure 7) provided in the top surface ofcoupling plate I42. It is thereby assured that coupling plate I42 willrotate with the control knob I32.

Since the handle is most conveniently formed as a molded component, itis generally found that in quantity production of this component thatthe thickness of the web or base portion I0 of the handle variesconsiderably between individual units. The control knob I32 is also mostconveniently formed as a molded component and likewise the dimensions ofthe length of the shank portion of the control knob varies considerablyin large quantity production.

To compensate for such production variations and to take up anyaccumulated tolerances, the retainer disk I44 is provided with aplurality of peripherally spaced, generally radially projecting arms I48which resiliently engage suitably inclined surfaces I56 (Fig. 2)provided in the base portion 10 around the vertical aperture I 34. The

spring arms I48 thus exert an axial bias upon control knob I32 urgingsuch knob into abutting relationship with the top surface of the base orweb portion 10 of the handle.

Since the adjustable thermostat 24 is fixedly mounted within the shellunit 2, it is necessary to provide a detachable connection between thead- J'ustable thermostat 24 and the manual control knob I32. Suchconnection is provided by the cooperation of a downwardly dependingfinger I52 which is integrally formed on coupling plate I42 with asuitable slot I54 provided in the periphery of connecting disk 50. Suchdetachable connection also provides protection for the thermostatagainst chance blows which the knob I32 might receive. Hence properadjustment of thermostat 24 will be maintained even though the iron issubjected to rough usage. Furthermore, the concentricity requirementsbetween thermostat 24 and knob I32 are minimized.

The top surface of casing I0 is provided with an oval-shaped aperture2I, the front end of which overlies connecting disk 50. Hence clearanceis provided for the forward movement of coupling plate I42 in aperture2I which accompanics assembly of handle unit 4 on shell unit 2.

The retainer disk I44 may be conveniently utilized to perform anadditional function. A pair of oppositely disposed, radially projectingretainer arms I56 (Fig. 3) are integrally formed on such disk and, inthe assembled position of the retainer disk on the base portion 70 ofthe handle, project across each of the channels I22 and hence functionto retain the wires I24 within such channels.

It will be noted from Fig. 9 that the shape of shell casing I8 is suchas to permit the iron to rest on its side, supported by the handle andthe top edge of easing I8 between ironing operations. The air inlets I9and 20 maintain the top portion of the casing cool.

In Figures 10 and 11 there is disclosed a modified form of ironconstruction embodying this invention in which the handle may becompletely formed in one piece. In this construction, the rear pedestalportion 68 of the handle is again provided with a recess IS in which ismounted the rear coupling member 6. However, in this construction, therear wall of the recess 76 is not open but is completely enclosed by awall I56 which is integrally formed with the handle 62. To permit accessto the rear coupling member 6 in order to effect the disassembly of thehandle unit 4 from the shell unit 2, the rear wall I56 is provided witha small opening I58 through which a suitable tool, such as a screwdriverblade, may be inserted to pry the lower arm 80 of the rear couplingmember 6 upwardly to release the looking projection 94 from engagementwith the rear casing apertures 68 (Fig. 11). The access hole I58 ispreferably normally closed by a plate I60 which is suitably secured torear wall I56. The plate I60 may conveniently comprise the name platefor the electric iron.

In the modification of Figures 10 and 11, it is apparent that theenclosing of the rear wall of the rear pedestal portion 68 would renderthe connection of the lead-in wires to the terminal strip very difficultif such terminal strip were the same as that utilized in themodification of Figure l. Accordingly, to facilitate the electricalconnectlons during assembly of the iron, in the modification of Figures10 and 11 the shell casing l8 has a portion of the top surface thereofpunched out to define an opening I60 and the side walls IBI struck up ingenerally upstanding relation. A pair of generally L-shaped terminalmembers I64 are then welded to the top of easing I8 in spacedrelationship on opposite sides of the opening I68. The power supplywires are brought into the interior of recess 16 through a hollowrubberlike bushing 166 which is mounted in a hole I68 provided in thewall of the rear pedestal portion 68 at a point near the top thereof.Shoulders I18 and I12 are provided on bushing I66 to retain bushing I66within the hole I68 in the same manner as heretofore described inconnection with the modification of Figure 1. The power supply leads N8,the electric light leads I24 and the heating element and thermostatleads 58 are suitably interconnected on the terminal strips I64.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theappended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an electric iron having a body portion, and a handle unit, theimprovements of a resilient coupling for detachably securing said handleunit to said base portion in relatively movable, spring pressedrelationship thereto comprising a resilient member formed from a singlestrip of sheet material and having an integrally formed first portionsecured to said handle unit, an integrally formed flexible secondportion engageable with said body portion to resiliently urge saidhandle unit toward a spaced apart relationship with said body portion,and an integrally formed third portion extending from said first portionin separate spaced relation to said second portion and engageable withsaid body portion in latching relation thereto to secure said handleunit to said body portion against the bias exerted by said secondportion.

2. In an electric iron having a body portion, and a handle unit, theimprovements of a resilient coupling for detachably securing said handleunit to said base portion in relatively movable, spring pressedrelationship thereto comprising a resilient member formed from a singlestrip of sheet material and having an integrally formed first portionsecured to said handle unit, an integrally formed spring-acting secondportion engaging said body portion to resiliently urge said handle unitto a spaced apart relationship with respect to said body portion, anintegrally formed third portion extending from said first portion inseparate spaced relation to said second portion and engageable with saidbody portion in latching relation thereto to secure said handle unit tosaid body portion against the bias exerted by said second portion, andan integrally formed fourth portion extending from said second portionto engage said body portion in looking relation thereto to preventmovement of said handle unit relative to said body portion.

3. In an electric iron, a shell portion, said shell portion having anaperture therein, a handle unit, a resilient coupling member formed of asingle strip of sheet material and having an integrally formed firstportion thereof rigidly secured to said handle unit, an integrallyformed springacting second portion projecting laterally from said firstportion and engaging said shell portion 10'. to urge said handle unittoward a spaced apart relationship with respect to said shell portion;and an integrally formed third portion extending from said first portionin separate spaced relation to said second portion and projectingthrough said aperture in said shell portion, said third portion having anotch engageable with the interior face of said shell portion to securesaid handle unit to said shell portion against the bias exerted by saidsecond portion.

4. In an electric iron, a shell portion, said shell portion having anaperture in its top surface, a handle unit having an exterior surfacethereof conforming generally to the configuration of the top wall ofsaid shell portion, a resilient coupling member formed of a single stripof sheet material and having an integrally formed first portion securedto said handle unit, an integrally formed flexible second portionprojecting laterally from said first portion and in dependingrelationship thereto for engaging said shell portion to resiliently urgesaid handle unit toward a spaced apart relationship with respect to saidshell portion, and an integrally formed third portion extending fromsaid first portion in separate spaced relation to said second portionand projecting through said aperture in said shell portion andengageable with the interior face of said shell portion to secure saidhandle unit to said shell portion against the bias exerted by saidsecond portion and with said exterior surface of said handle disposed inspaced relation above said shell portion.

5. In an electric iron, a shell portion, said shell portion having firstand second apertures in its top surface, a handle unit, a resilientcoupling member formed of a single strip of sheet material having anintegrally formed first portion secured to said handle unit, anintegrally formed spring-acting second portion projecting outwardly fromsaid handle unit and engaging said shell portion to resiliently urgesaid handle unit toward a spaced apart relationship with respect to saidshell portion, an integrally formed third portion projecting throughsaid first aperture'in the shell portion and engageable with theinterior face of said shell portion to secure said handle unit to saidshell portion against the bias exerted by said second portion, and anintegrally formed .fourth portion projecting into saidsecond aper- "turein said shell portion to limit movement of said coupling member'relativeto said shell portion in a direction to disengage said third portionfrom said shell portion.

6. In an electric iron, a shell portion, said shell portion having anaperture therein, a handle unit, a coupling member formed of a singlestrip of sheet material and comprising a generally U-shaped resilientloop having an integrally vformed one arm portion secured to said handleunit, the other integrally formed arm portion extending laterally fromsaid one arm portion and engaging said shell portion to resiliently urgesaid handle unit toward a spaced apart relationship with respect to saidshell portion,

an integrally formed latching projection on said against the biasexerted by said loop.

'7. In an electric iron, a shell portion, said shell portion having afirst and second aperture in its top surface, a handle unit, a couplingmember formed of a single strip of sheet material comprising a generallyU-shaped resilient loop having one integrally formed arm portion securedto said handle unit, the other integrally formed flexible arm portionextending laterally from said ment of said handle unit relative to saidshell portion in the direction of the separation'of said handle unit andsaid shell portion, and an integrally formed locking projection on saidother arm portion engageable in said second aperture in said shellportion to prevent movement of said handle unit relative to said shellportion in any direction substantially transverse to the separa tion ofsaid handle unit and said shell portion.

8.In an electric iron having an associated thermostat, a loop-shapedhandle having abase portion, upstanding pedestal portions and a handleportion, said base portion having a vertical aperture therein and havingat its under side a longitudinally extending channel adapted to receiveelectrical conductors therein, a thermostat control knob having a shaftportion extending downwardly through said aperture, abutment meanssecured to the bottom end of said shaft portion, and a member having abody portion seated against said abutment means and havin one springfinger element connected at one end with said body portion and having afree end projecting upwardly and engageable with said base portion toresiliently urge said knob downwardly,

said retainer member also having another finger;

element extending from said body portion and disposed in overlyingrelation to said channel and adapted to retain the electrical conductorstherein.

9. In an electric iron having an associated thermostat, a loop-shapedhandle having a base portion, upstanding pedestal portions and a handleportion, said base portion having a vertical aperture therein and havingat its under side a pair of longitudinally extending channels adapted toreceive electrical conductors therein and respectively disposed onopposite sides of said vertical aperture, a thermostat control knobhaving a shaft portion extending downwardly through said verticalaperture, abutment means secured to the bottom end of said shaftportion, and a retainer member having a body portion seated against saidabutment means and a plurality of spring finger elements extending fromsaid body portion and engageable with said base portion to resilientlyurge said knob downwardly, said retainer member also having a pair ofretaining finger elements extending from said body portion and disposedrespectively in overlying relation to said channels and adapted toretain the electrical conductors therein.

10. In an electric iron having a variable element to be controlled, amanual control knob having an integrally formed shank portion, anapertured wall journaling said shank portion, abutment means secured tothe end of said shank portion and disposed on the opposite side of saidwall from said knob, and a disk-like retaining member having a bodyportion seated against said abutment means and having a plurality ofperipherally spaced, integral spring fingers on said retaining memberprojecting from said body portion in generally radial relationship andengageablewith said wall, thereby resiliently urging said control knobtoward abutting relationship with said wall.

11. In an electric iron having a variable element to be controlled, amanual control knob having an integrally formed shank portion, anapertured wall journaling said shank portion, said wall having a pair ofchannels in its face opposite to said control knob adapted to receiveelectrical conductors therein, abutment means secured to the end of saidshank portion and disposed on the opposite side of said wall from saidknob, and a retaining member having a body portion seated against saidabutment means and a plurality of peripherally spaced, integral springfingers projecting from said body portion in generally radialrelationship and engageable with said wall, thereby resiliently urgingsaid control knob toward abutting relationship with said wall, saidretain ing member also having a pair of integral retaining fingersprojecting from said body portion in generally radial relationship andrespectively overlying said channels and adapted to retain electricalconductors therein.

12. A resilient coupling for detachably securing two members inrelatively movable spring-pressed relationship, one member fixedlysecured to said coupling and the other member having a pair of spacedslots and a pair of spaced apertures for detachable securement to saidcoupling, said coupling comprising a generally U-shaped member ofresilient material having one leg of longer length than the other, apair of parallel spaced latching projections on opposite sides near theend of the longer of said legs and spaced in corre spondence to saidslots, each of said latching projections being integral with said memberand extending past the free end of the shorter leg thereof, each of saidlatching projections having a securing notch provided in a confrontingedge thereof, and a pair of projecting prongs on the free end of theshorter of said legs spaced equidistant from the middle of said memberand slightly inwardly from the sides thereof and spaced incorrespondence to said apertures, said prongs extending in the samedirection as said projections but shorter than said projections,

whereby when said longer leg of said coupling is fixedly secured to theone of said members and said latching projections are inserted intoslots in the other of said members, said members may be secured togetherby relative movement to cause engagement of the edges of said slots withsaid securing notches and engagement of said projecting prongs intocorresponding receiving apertures in said other of said members.

13. In an electric iron including a thermostat, a handle having anapertured web portion, a thermostat control knob having a shank portionjournaled in said web portion, said shank portion having projectionsdepending therefrom for operating said thermostat, an annular retainingmember surrounding said shank portion and having spring fingers elementsprojecting upwardly therefrom to engage with said web portion, and acoupling plate secured to the shank portion to provide an annular seatfor bottoming said retaining member, said coupling plate havingapertures for receiving therethrough said driving projections, thespring finger elements resiliently, urging said coupling platedownwardly relative to said web portion to urge said control knob towardabutting relation with said web portion.

LELAND H. SNYDER. WILLIS E. SHIPLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

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